According to Oberlin College's recycling program, about 50 percent of materials such as paper and aluminum are recycled. When it comes to printer ink cartridges, we recycle only 5 percent. But there are good reasons to recycle ink cartridges.

Environment

Non-recycled ink cartridges are harmful to the environment. It takes up to three quarts of oil to manufacture each ink cartridge. Discarded cartridges tend to leak ink, causing pollution. Plastics make up most of the cartridges, and plastics take as long as 1,000 years to biodegrade.

Taxpayer Cost

Businesses and schools discard tons of ink cartridges every year. This waste ends up in landfills, a type of cleanup that the taxpayer ends up paying for.

Save Energy

According to Green Your Library, it takes 80 percent less energy to remanufacture plastic than to produce a brand-new cartridge. Ink cartridges can be recycled and reused between four and seven times.

Consumer Can Make Money

You can get money for old cartridges. Companies such as Staples and HP offer money and store rewards for returned cartridges. Other companies will pay you if your cartridge is something they're looking for. Follow their specific instructions when returning a cartridge.

Promotes Green Future

Recycling advances green technologies and the wiser use of nonrenewable resources. It promotes lifestyle behaviors and choices that are better for the health of the planet and the creatures that depend on it for survival.

Source:

Oberlin College Recyle Program

Green Your Library

Paper Industry Council

More Information:

Recycle Choices